Someone has to do it. The U.S. Army's First Brigade of the Third Infantry Division is joining the ranks of those special civilian and military members who prepare the nation for the unthinkable: consequences pertaining to chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear or explosive events on U.S. territory.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 10, 2008 - The war in Iraq has entered the "endgame" phase and it is important to get it right, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said during testimony on Capitol Hill today.

"Our decisions today and in the months ahead will be critical to regional stability and our national security interests for years to come," the secretary said. Gates and Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, testified before the House Armed Services Committee.

September 25, 2008|
By Jim Garamone
American Forces Press Service
|Military

WASHINGTON -- President Bush on Tuesday plans to order 8,000 more combat and support troops out of Iraq by February, a measured drawdown that will leave nearly the same level of U.S. forces in the war zone for the rest of the year.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 3, 2008 - The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff expressed confidence yesterday that Washington and Baghdad will reach an agreement before the year's end on the future role of U.S. forces in Iraq.

Navy Adm. Mike Mullen also discussed his outlook on past and present U.S. humanitarian relief missions in a Pentagon Channel podcast interview.

September 19, 2008|
By John J. Kruzel
American Forces Press Service
|Military

WHAT: A Senate and House legislative panel, co-chaired by Sen. John Douglas (R-Social Circle) and Rep. John Yates (R-Griffin), will meet in Milledgeville on Friday to discuss the possible closure of the Georgia War Veterans Home due to recent budget cuts. The panel will hear from different points of view, including representatives of the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Commissioner Pete Wheeler of Veterans Affairs and other interested parties.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 29, 2008 - Starting a business requires cold, hard cash and moral support, both of which are now available to military spouses through a Virginia-based organization.

"Military Spouse Business Association will help military spouses with the tangibles of financial and business resources and the intangibles of motivation, encouragement, support and recognition," said Lanette Lepper, a co-founder of the organization, and a military spouse who owns her own business.

September 13, 2008|
By Samantha Quigley
American Forces Press Service
|Military

WASHINGTON, Aug. 28, 2008 - Coalition forces in the Madain community south of Baghdad are shifting their efforts from predominantly offensive operations to improving central services and further developing the local government, a military official posted in Iraq said today.

WASHINGTON -- A new change to the Joint Federal Travel Regulations authorizes the military to pay to move servicemembers and their families whose landlords default on property the military members are renting.

Bill Carr, deputy undersecretary of defense for military personnel policy and chairman of the Per Diem, Travel and Transportation Allowance Committee, approved the change Aug. 8, said Eileen Lainez, a Defense Department spokeswoman.

August 27, 2008|
By Donna Miles
American Forces Press Service
|Military